Fascism

I see the word “Fascism” being casually tossed around lately by people of the Far Left persuasion. “Bush is a fascist”. “America is a fascist state”. I’m not sure if they actually know the definition of the word, so here it is just in case they stumble across my web site (thanks to dictionary.com):

A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the
opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.

Word History: It is fitting that the name of an authoritarian political movement like Fascism, founded in 1919 by Benito Mussolini, should come from the name of a symbol of
authority. The Italian name of the movement, fascismo, is derived from fascio, bundle, (political) group, but also refers to the movement’s emblem, the fasces, a bundle of
rods bound around a projecting axe-head that was carried before an ancient Roman magistrate by an attendant as a symbol of authority and power. The name of Mussolini’s group of revolutionaries was soon
used for similar nationalistic movements in other countries that sought to gain power through violence and ruthlessness, such as National Socialism.

Sorry, while Bush is fairly right-wing (much much more than our leftist friends), he doesn’t fit the definition. Check out this guy for a real fascist. It’s also interesting to note that Fascism was born out of Socialism…

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” – Inigo Montoya